The Heart-Cart
Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712
Image Title: The Heart-Cart
Scripture Reference:
- Proverbs 8 (further images / scripture text)
Description: A heart with an eye is placed on a cart with a wheel inscribed: In which direction shall I turn. The cart is pulled in two directions: to the left by an angel, above whom several cherubs are visible in the clouds; to the right by a donkey, loaded with the World, in the direction of a fire, above which flashes of lightning appear. The Dutch artist and poet Jan Luiken (1649-1712), whose initials are at the lower right, was responsible for drawing and etching this emblem and for the poem that accompanies it (below). The attendant scripture text is Proverbs 8:20-21.
Poem:
One man, divided into two,
Appears thus clearly for the eyes,
In the Animal’s and in the Angel’s Image
Where each is depicted in his capacity.
The one believes and hopes in God,
The other, in the matter of the earth;
This is, everyone’s object, Share and Fate,
That he loves and values.
That’s East and West, or South and North,
Whoever pulls strongest in front of this cart,
Pulls the other along with him,
According to his desire and pleasure
The Animal Part looks down before of him,
For hay and grass, the earthly things,
Of concern for the flesh, desire and honor,
Of wealth, sensuality and enjoyment.
That path he takes thoughtlessly,
While he grazes in front of his feet,
And finds at the end a deep ditch,
To the pain and sorrow of both.
There crashes the Cart with the Horse,
And the Noble Part, that let itself be pulled,
By this Animal-like nature,
So that all Devils make fun of it.
But the Angel-Part, raises his eye,
To the being above all senses,
And sends his sighs up high
In the hope of gaining Eternal Salvation:
If it pulls strongest in front of the wheel,
Then the animal part must come along;
That means: The Body follows the Soul,
On his sure and steady tread.
He pulls it then forcibly forth,
And if he continues to persevere steadily,
He will so bring it in front of the Heavenly Gate,
Where body and soul are separated.
Then the donkey is unharnessed,
From life’s gilded Heart-Cart,
While Death banishes him to the grave;
And the Angel-image, completely released,
From him and his heavy sorrow,
Achieves the much wished-for End,
And he attains precious pleasure,
Relieved of trouble and misery.
Has then the body become worthless,
And will it remain eternally rejected?
No, when his animal nature,
In the earth is completely worn out,
Until the final Judgment-Day,
Then it will again join the Soul,
So pure, as seen by wisdom,
Before it decayed through sin’s rupture.
Then it will again become the Soul’s garment
And the solid house, of eternal dwelling,
Although without the least bit of suffering,
To be viewed in contrast to the Soul.
Then it doesn’t pull in the wrong direction,
But is one desire and pleasure,
And proceeds infinitely, eternally,
Undivided in front of the Heart-Cart.
(Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker)
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